old wives' tale

noun

Definition of old wives' talenext
as in error
a false idea or belief the belief that going outside with wet hair will cause you to catch cold is just an old wives' tale

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of old wives' tale Some commenters pointed out that an old wives' tale dictates that a bride finding a spider in her wedding dress will bring her good luck, prosperity and protection. — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026 Warm milk The long-standing tradition of drinking a glass of warm milk before bed isn't just an old wives' tale. — Lauren Manaker, SELF, 26 Nov. 2025 Ольга Симонова/iStock / Getty Images Plus Coffee in the garden isn't just an old wives' tale. — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025 For the 39 million Americans who suffer from migraines, finding effective relief can be a constant struggle – leading many to test out old wives' tales. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025 There are many myths, misconceptions and old wives' tales floating around regarding Arizona's high temperatures and blistering summer heat. — Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 19 May 2025 According to a popular old wives' tale, going to bed with wet hair can lead to catching a nasty cold. — Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025 An old wives' tale says heartburn during pregnancy means your unborn baby has a full head of hair, but many parents with bald babies would strongly disagree. — Tiffany Eve Lawrence, Parents, 3 May 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old wives' tale
  1. error
  2. myth
  3. delusion
  4. illusion
Noun
  • High jump is a technical event — while physiology matters, the winner tends to be decided by who can best correct their errors as the bar goes up.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 25 July 2026
  • The device also features a small joystick, likely the 13th key, that can trigger reusable Codex Skills and common workflows such as debugging an error, reviewing a pull request, or refactoring code.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 July 2026
Definition of error
Noun
  • The show feels like a street dance crossed with a concert (at one point the musicians are introduced by name) that happens to have a hallowed myth threaded down the middle of it.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 25 July 2026
  • To cap it off, the Messi Test also takes the air out of a prevailing myth, which is an oversimplification of a more nuanced reality.
    — Bhaskar Chakravorti, Fortune, 25 July 2026
Definition of myth
Noun
  • The 29-year-old Christian Faith Madison died after walking into traffic, with her family arguing that the OpenAI chatbot had fueled her religious delusions during their extensive interactions, pushing her over the edge by romanticizing death.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 23 July 2026
  • The delusion is painful to watch, but the greater tragedy is that his proximity to this staggering wealth insures his and Lindsay’s misery.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
Definition of delusion
Noun
  • The pairing creates the illusion of mixing and matching patterns while still remaining cohesive.
    — Alice Cary, Vogue, 24 July 2026
  • This technique presents the illusion of two struggling baitfish simultaneously — one on the surface and the other just below.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 23 July 2026
Definition of illusion

Browse Nearby Words

old-timey
old wives' tale
old wives' tales
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Cite this Entry

“Old wives' tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old%20wives%27%20tale. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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